General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Plans and Bonds
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Maiyn sat alone in her room, huddled on her bed as her thoughts went over the day's events. It had certainly been an interesting start to their time in the city, and one she would quite happily redo if she'd been able to. They at least had found enough rooms at the inn, but Coran had retired as soon as he was handed his key and she'd had no chance to talk to him. A knock at her door made her sigh. She was fed up of Imoen and Jaheira checking in on her, even though they meant well. She sat in silence, hoping they'd think she was asleep or in reverie, and go away. Another knock showed their persistence, and she scowled slightly to herself.
"Maiyn." Coran's voice was low, but enough to make her leap from her sitting place and open her door. The fighter was standing there, his eyes on the ground. He looked older than Maiyn could remember, the shock of the days revelation having a profound effect.
"May I have a word with you?" His voice was quiet.
"Of course," she replied, allowing him to enter her room. He sat down on the chair by her window, and she back on her bed, looking at him cautiously, preparing for the worst. "What is it?"
"I... I would like very much to go back and talk to Briel again." Maiyn tensed. "The girl might need help, and I feel that I have wronged her... Can we go meet with her?"
"We?" asked Maiyn. She relaxed slightly.
Coran nodded to her, and moved to sit beside her. "We... I know this is a shock, but... we are still..." His voice faded completely as he looked at her.
She nodded slightly, and he sighed with relief. "I thought... that is why I asked for my own room..." Maiyn hushed him, and pulled him close for a tight embrace. "We can go and see Briel whenever you wish," she said softly. "But... you need to sort this out before we can discuss... us. No matter what though, I will be your friend."
He nodded, but she could see the sadness in his eyes. "Can we go now?"
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Brielbara looked to Coran, waiting for him to say his piece. Maiyn had walked over to the window, trying to hide in the shadows of the corner of the room as much as she could. She felt as if she were intruding on private matters.
"I did a lot of thinking and... I came to apologise, Briel..."
"Apology?" She stared at the elf. "What do I need an apology for? Would it put food on Namara's plate and clothes on her back? Or should I sing your apology as a lullaby for her, when she would not stop crying for her father?"
Coran looked taken aback. "Eh, Briel, slow down! I came to offer my help as well. I know, that we disagree about my... lifestyle, and that you are too noble to be a thief's mate..."
"Coran, why must you be so incredibly stubborn about it?" she said, her voice sharp. "You are going to end up in prison or hanged for a bandit, silly elf. I know you have a better heart than that... why would not you..."
"Briel, Briel... please, let us spare the further details of our favourite argument to Maiyn," said Coran quietly. Brielbara tensed, reminded of the presence of the ranger, and Maiyn shifted uncomfortably. "The City of Baldur's Gate needs something newer than that to listen to. I am not cut out for becoming a merchant or some other respectful member of a society."
"A pity..."
Coran shrugged. "Maybe. Briel, I promise you that every time I'd come into money, Namara and you will have..."
"I see," she interrupted, her voice pained. "Coran, I feel that you are sincere, and that you do want to help. However, I am afraid that will not be enough, not with your peculiar notion on what responsibility is. I have an idea, though, on how you can help."
"What would you have me do, Briel?" he asked. "I agree to anything - except for settling down, of course..."
"It has been rough going for us lately with Namara sick and my husband plotting against us... he took all, Coran! House, money, everything. I can hardly get by, and I am so tired... would you take Namara with you and take care of her for a while to give me some time to get back to my feet?"
Maiyn's eyes widened as she watched the discussion, but she stayed quiet. Coran seemed to be shocked into silence for a few minutes.
"Briel... are you sure?" he asked eventually. "I lack knowledge on baby care. I doubt that I can... you know... feed the baby and... and do whatever else you have to do. Actually, I know nothing of babies at all."
"Then it is past time that you learnt." Brielbara was firm.
"Briel!" protested Coran. "Not that I refuse, but won't it be dangerous for a child to travel with me? We are constantly fighting for our lives and..."
"We have a few days worth of rest," interrupted Maiyn. "There is no need for us to be anywhere more dangerous than the confines of the inn and city parks for a while." Brielbara gave the ranger a brief, soft smile of thanks.
"Then it is no more dangerous for her in your company than in that place in the bowels of this city I keep her now," stated Brielbara, turning back to Coran. "I never know if she won't be sold to some slavers or killed out of spite by some lowlife while I am away."
"Well, if that's what you want me to do, I will do it," Coran said, defeated by the two women.
"Good." Brielbara smiled to him. "Thank you, Coran. And do not look so sour, you might come to enjoy it."
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Maiyn awoke the next morning wondering what to tell the others. Coran had decided to take Namara to his own room, and she had left him to go. He seemed reluctant to let the ranger be close to him while he had his daughter, despite her willingness to help him, but she had said nothing, and watched him retire in silence. She went to the common room to find the Harpers awake. She quickly explained what had happened the previous evening, and Jaheira threw her an amused look.
"Coran is being a father?" She snorted slightly. "Whatever next? Minsc speaking wisely?"
Maiyn frowned at her slightly, but was in no mood for an argument. She asked them to let the others know when they appeared, and she went to knock on Coran's door lightly. She didn't want to waken him up, and was surprised when he answered the door, fully clothed and looking tired.
"Maiyn? What a beautiful vision you are..." he said, stifling a yawn. "I am sorry, my fair Lady. Will you be merciful and tell me that I am dreaming of you and it's not the time to get up already? I... I am exhausted. Namara got a bit agitated during the night, and would not stop babbling. And she tried to chew on the fletching of the arrows...the magical ones, too... and..."
Maiyn gently pushed him aside, and went over to the crib that they had managed to obtain from the barkeep. The half-elven baby was lying on her back, looking wide awake. Maiyn found herself smiling as she looked down at her, and she reached out to pick her up gently, letting her rest in her arms the way she'd seen some of the nursing mothers who visited Candlekeep do.
Namara cooed gently, staring back up at the unfamiliar face, completely unperturbed. Maiyn ignored Coran's anxious glance, and swatted him away as he flit around her. She walked over to the window, holding Namara up slightly so she could see outside. The half-elf's small hands reached out, pointing randomly as birds fluttered past the window, and Coran slowly relaxed, sitting on the bed, watching them with sleepy eyes.
Maiyn looked around and smiled. "I do not think that a longer rest will hurt. Go back to sleep, my dear, and let me try to lull Namara... while we still have arrows left." She grinned mischievously, and Coran smiled in return.
"Maiyn, your kindness is surpassed only by your beauty," he said softly. "Are you sure you can lull her though? You can practice on me... if you are uncertain, that is."
Maiyn grinned, and slowly wandered over to Coran's bed, instructing him to get comfortable. When he was settled, she carefully climbed up beside him, allowing his head to rest on her shoulder while Namara nestled into her embrace.
"Let my dreams be as beautiful and kind as you look with Namara," he murmured.
Softly she sang a nursery rhyme that Gorion himself had sung to her when she was a child. Before she'd even finished the first verse, both Coran and Namara were peacefully asleep.
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Coran awoke to find Maiyn still by his side, and he sat up slowly, stretching and yawning, then regarded the young elf as she held his child. Namara was still nestled into the ranger's arms, and Maiyn was absent-mindedly stroking the child's tufts of hair as she smiled to him.
"There is the saying, 'Luck be a Lady'," Coran said as he gazed at them both fondly. "And it seems to me that you are both my lady and my luck."
Maiyn looked up to him, and was surprised to realise he was talking about her, and not Namara. She grinned. "I think that title rightfully belongs to this little lady."
Coran shook his head softly. "I met with her because of you... It was the greatest surprise in my life. When I saw the child, my heart went cold, for thoughts of what you were going to do. I was expecting you to begin berating me every time you were cross for Namara's existence. Yet, you insisted on me doing something... good. I was lucky that it was you by my side that day, or as the Seldarine know I would have acted like selfish brat and I would never have seen her again."
"Why should I be cross with something that you have done long ago? I knew you had a past and accepted it." Maiyn's voice was quiet, and her eyes were fixed on the slowly rousing Namara.
Coran quietly sat beside her, putting his arm around the ranger, and turning her face gently to look at him. "Since meeting you, I have been through hair-raising adventures, and amazingly have managed to keep my head attached to my shoulders. There is ever a coin to buy meat and wine, and to pay for a room in the city; and to add to that I have done something... well... noble."
"Since meeting you, I have had to restrain you from fits of suicidal bravery, wasting coin, and abandoning your own child." Maiyn's eyes were twinkling, betraying her tease.
"Hey, it is you who is happy to hand our out coin!" he protested with a smile. "But really, do not I bring at least a little bit of happiness into your life?"
Maiyn was distracted by the now wakened Namara, and gently handed her over to her father. "You do," she said as she stood up, holding up her hand with her fingers about an inch apart. "About this much."
"Oh, I should try harder then," Coran grinned, letting Namara play with the button on his tunic.
"I have to go and see Duke Eltan now you have awoken," said Maiyn softly. "Some of the others intend to go with me, and we will just listen to see what he has to say. I don't plan to act on anything until Briel has picked up Namara again, because I don't want her getting into any danger - and I don't want to do anything dangerous without you by my side."
Coran beamed a smile to her. "I shall be free to be involved again soon," he said.
Maiyn nodded. "But I want you to enjoy your time with your daughter and get to know her. I will be around if you need anything." She bent forward and kissed him lightly on the forehead, caressed Namara's cheek gently, and left the room.
"My dear ranger," sighed Coran, speaking to himself as he looked at the closed door. "You're acting as if you should be giving us a wide berth, when all we'd really like is your company. Isn't that right Namara?"
Namara cooed.
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Maiyn reported to the Flaming Fist compound with Jaheira, Khalid and Imoen in tow. They were escorted inside, and Scar was summoned almost immediately to see them. He seemed relieved by their presence, but asked after their absent companions.
"The others have personal businesses to attend to," said Maiyn quietly. Elminster had advised her to trust both Scar and Duke Eltan, but she still felt quite wary. The city was still new to her, and she felt quite overwhelmed by the size and amount of people. It would take some adjusting for her to feel comfortable enough to trust anyone outside her party.
Scar nodded, and led them up a spiral staircase into what appeared to be someone's personal quarters. An older man was waiting there, seemingly for them - his brown beard and hair, unlike Scar's, was dappled with grey, but both men were tall and muscular.
"Let me introduce you to Duke Eltan, one of the Lords of the City, Commander of the Flaming Fist, and member of the Lord's Alliance."
The older man bowed his head formally, and smiled. "I am glad to see that you have come," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "I know that such a meeting is unusual, but in these circumstances it is necessary. I would first ask what involvement you've had with the merchant's society known as the Iron Throne."
Maiyn hesitated and looked at the Harpers. Jaheira gave her a slight nod, encouraging her to speak frankly.
"We have investigated the operations taking place in the mines at Nashkel and Cloakwood," she said cautiously. "At both, we found notes of evidence of the involvement of the leaders of the Iron Throne, and we also found a link to a bandit encampment we destroyed north from Peldvale."
Duke Eltan nodded slowly. "From what I've been told you've been quite a thorn in the side of the Iron Throne. I'm interested in you because of the obvious hatred they hold for you." Maiyn raised an eyebrow quizzically, and the Duke smiled. "The bounty notices my men have been finding. We have reason to believe they are linked."
"Ah." Maiyn had kept the one they had found on Larze's corpse, and she had become obsessed over its likeness.
"Is my nose really that big?" Maiyn asked in a horrified tone, staring at the notice. Imoen tried to prise it from her grasp as she stared at it, transfixed by her likeness. None of the other notes had featured a detailed drawing of their target, and the ranger couldn't help comparing herself to it.
"Nah," said Imoen, supportively. "Well, it's as big as the picture says, but I wouldn't say that it's big..."
Maiyn glared at her friend, but her attention was drawn back to the scroll soon enough, and she poured over it seriously.
"Do I really frown like that?" she said.
"Well," said the thief, noticing that the ranger was wearing a remarkably similar scowl right at that moment. "I wouldn't say you were incapable of that expression."
Maiyn looked at her with distress and the human managed to snatch the paper from her hands. The ranger protested, but the thief stuffed it in her bag.
"You're obsessing over it, and now it's gone," said Imoen firmly. "C'mon girl, we have things to do!"
The ranger's attention was drawn from her memory by the Duke's voice as he went on with his speech.
"The recent activities of the Iron Throne have been brought to my attention, and I'm very dubious about their intent. I think it is far too easy to blame the recent occurrences on the Zhentarim, although the evidence does point to them."
"I do not believe it is the Zhentarim," said Maiyn confidently, recounting the scene she'd witnessed in Sorcerous Sundries, but carefully neglecting to mention Xzar's push for ultimate power.
"Interesting," said Duke Eltan quietly, looking to Scar. The younger man nodded his agreement at the assessment, and the Duke continued. "That would back up what we suspected - that the Zhentarim have little to profit, but the Iron Throne has much to gain. Unfortunately, with Amn threatening war over the crisis, my hands are tied. I cannot act against the Iron Throne without proof. This is where I would ask for your help."
"We would be happy to do whatever we can," said Jaheira.
"First, Scar has a task we would like you to look into. It involves a rival mercantile consortium called the Seven Suns Coster. He will give you the details, and from the information we gather with that we shall be able to deduct if it has anything to do with the suspicions surrounding the Iron Throne."
"What is the task?" asked Maiyn.
"You will be paid for it," Scar said quickly. "You will need to infiltrate the Coster, to work out why their leadership has been acting strangely of late - selling off valuable assets, while neglecting many more profitable trading ventures."
"Considering the importance that the trading Coster holds over the economy of our city," added Duke Eltan, "we are quite upset."
"I have spoken to the head of the Seven Suns, a man called Jhasso, and he rudely rebuffed me," snorted Scar, "telling me to mind my own business. I've known him for many years and this isn't his usual behaviour."
Maiyn nodded. "We can certainly send a few of our companions to investigate this matter for you. What then? What of the Iron Throne?"
Eltan smiled. "When you have finished with the Seven Suns, you will need to break into the Iron Throne compound - a difficult task in itself. I am sure however that you have the wherewithal to make it through, and you will receive 2000 gold pieces for each mission - a worthy sum, I am sure you agree. It is vitally important that you visit the Seven Suns first, however much your own personal agenda is against the Iron Throne, for any information we can gather about the situation can only be in our benefit."
Maiyn nodded. "You wish us to discover if there is a link between the Iron Throne and Seven Suns, while investigating the odd occurrences at the trading Coster, then to break into the Iron Throne and acquire evidence to link them to the bandit raids and iron crisis?" she asked, confirming what she'd understood.
"Exactly," smiled Duke Eltan.
Maiyn sighed inwardly but nodded once more. She hoped noone in the group was averse to snooping.
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She'd gathered them all in the common room with the exception of Coran who was still busy with Namara. Imoen had been last to arrive, barely able to stop giggling as she described how much difficulty Coran was having as he tried to bathe his daughter.
Maiyn briefly went over the meeting with Duke Eltan and Commander Scar. "I only want a few people to go to the Seven Suns," she said in conclusion to her report, "to draw as little attention as possible. I don't think it will be dangerous, more just a case of finding information from people, so... who'd like to volunteer?"
Imoen's hand darted up into the air, and Maiyn grinned. "Okay sis, you're leading this one."
The young thief gasped. "You're not going?"
Maiyn shook her head and stood up. "I have... other things I need to deal with before we get to the Iron Throne. I know you're more than capable, but I'd recommend taking Auntie Jaheira," grinned Maiyn to the giggling Imoen, ignoring the druid's frosty glare, "or Khalid, or both since they know as much as I do about what was said."
Imoen nodded, and Maiyn stood up and excused herself. She had matters much closer to her heart to deal with first, and she had every confidence in her friend's abilities.
"Right, I think that Jaheira, Dynaheir and Minsc should come with me," she heard the human say as she left. "We'll need to start thinkin' of a plan..."
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Coran had somehow managed to get Namara dressed all by himself, although Maiyn did have to point out that her tiny white vest was on the wrong way round. Imoen had told him she'd returned from the Flaming Fist, so he'd tracked her down to her room and now he was trying to make it clear that he wanted to spend time with her.
"We thought we would go out and see some of the sights of the town," he said casually, having fixed Namara's errant clothing.
Maiyn nodded. "It's a pleasant day, I am sure she'll enjoy it."
"We, er... well, we thought maybe..."
Maiyn stayed quiet as she watched him, slightly amused by his newfound hesitancy.
"Well, would you like to maybe come with us?" he managed at last.
"Would you like me to?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I... we didn't!" Coran exclaimed, slightly exasperated. Maiyn just grinned, and nodded. The fighter beamed happily, and together they left the inn, passing Kivan on the way out who offered Maiyn the slightest hint of a smile.
"There is a small market just over towards the castle," said Coran thoughtfully. "We could go to it, if you wanted?"
"You know what there is here better than I," replied Maiyn serenely. "I'm quite happy to follow you."
"It can, er, well, get busy sometimes, with all the locals," said Coran, trying to sound completely indifferent. "Perhaps you should take my arm to avoid us losing each other, and you getting lost."
Maiyn grinned at his serious face. "That would be a terrible happening," she agreed, holding out her arm for him to take. "It suits you, having a girl at each side."
Coran grinned, deftly avoiding Namara's grab for his nose. "I always thought it might," he admitted thoughtfully, "but I'd never envisaged it to be quite like this..."
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Jaheira and Imoen were discussing their plans for the Seven Suns when Khalid left them. He'd spotted Xan going outside rather sombrely shortly after Maiyn had departed with Coran and the baby and he decided he should check up on the morose enchanter.
Xan hadn't been himself for a few weeks. He'd always been depressed, of course, ever since they rescued him, but there seemed to be a new dimension to his sadness now and Khalid suspected he knew the reasons. The change in mood had certainly coincided with Branwen's death, but Khalid suspected it went back slightly further than that. The enchanter and the priestess had been civil to each other, but he'd seen no sign to suggest her death had affected Xan any more than the others - certainly, Maiyn seemed to be the one who took it hardest. No, it seemed as though Xan's odd behaviour was influenced by Coran's joining the party.
His antagonisms and argumentative tendencies with the group had settled slightly after they'd left the Friendly Arms, but he'd become more withdrawn than ever and sometimes he was barely noticeable in their presence. Not even a 'We're all doomed' crossed his lips as they marched any more.
Khalid had to admit to himself, that he would have been happier to see Maiyn develop an interest in the enchanter; doom saying and morose as he was, he had an honourable background, and he cared for the ranger. Khalid had seen them talking before, and learnt of his offers of shared reveries, which Maiyn had accepted gladly to avoid her nightmares. It had seemed only like a matter of time until something else blossomed from it.
But then Coran had joined. It hadn't taken long for the Harpers to realise that the older elf's wiles were endearing Maiyn to him quite rapidly, but he had been pleasantly surprised to watch her hold out on him for so long. And now she has to witness his past indiscretions come back to haunt him, he thought sadly. She didn't seem particularly bothered though - she'd even been seen dreamily cooing at the child.
Attaching herself to the child will just make her hurt even worse,Jaheira had said to him. He couldn't help but agree; when their relationship invariably ended due to Coran's ways, she would not only lose her first 'love', but she would lose the bond with a child that wasn't hers. He knew that he and Jaheira had to discuss that with her soon.
Xan, however, could barely seem to see Maiyn and Coran together, let alone complete with his child. He made every effort to be somewhere else and had looked a strange mixture of shocked and satisfied when the woman had confronted Coran the previous day. There was certainly some link to it and his moods, and Khalid was determined to get to the bottom of it. He'd spotted the enchanter sitting on one of the town's many benches, just away from the entrance, and he took a deep breath and wandered over.
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Coran guided Maiyn deftly through the crowd, even with Namara clinging to his other side. The ranger watched the crowds with awe and the naivety of a girl who'd never stepped foot inside a city before. Coran watched her as she looked around, an adoring smile lighting up his face, but when she turned to regard him he hastily looked away.
They approached the market, several stalls set out in the afternoon sun with the proprietors shouting out their wares for the world to hear. Maiyn slowed down considerably as she viewed the merchandise, more often than not with neutrality, but occasionally gasping slightly when faced with the creations of some of the more expert craftsmen.
Maiyn gently pulled at Coran's sleeve eventually, leading him over to a small gardened area. It was really just a fairly large square of well tended lawn, surrounded by a border of flowers and with a few trees in each corner. She led the way to one of the quieter parts, and sat down in the shade of a large rowan tree, beckoning Coran to join her.
He did, and Namara burbled gently as Maiyn gently placed her on her feet, supporting her carefully and letting the little girl grasp her fingers tightly as she wobbly kept upright. The bright eyes of the baby half-elf looked all around, taking everything in as Coran leant against the tree, watching the two females entertain each other. Some townspeople smiled as they walked past, remarking on the happiness of the 'young family', and Maiyn just nodded pleasantly to them.
Coran could see the hint of sadness in her eyes every time though, and his arm instinctively went around her shoulder. She sighed as he hugged her, but as quickly as the feeling had appeared, it was gone, and Maiyn's attention went back to Namara, making faces as the little girl giggled, and entering her own little world where the worries of her life faded into non-existence. It didn't stop Coran worrying quietly.
